Flow regulator for air conditioning installations

ABSTRACT

Flow regulator for air conditioning installations, especially designed to be mounted inside an air diffuser, said regulator ( 3 ) comprising an air flow control element ( 5 ) mounted on the air supply duct ( 2 ) of the diffuser, an activation engine ( 7 ) mounted inside the expansion chamber ( 1 ), and a transmission mechanism connecting the activation engine ( 7 ) to the air flow control element ( 5 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a flow regulator for air conditioning installations, especially designed to be mounted on the expansion chamber of an air diffuser.

The air regulator object of this invention is designed to be mounted on diffusers of air conditioning installations, in both new and existing constructions; and its function is to control the air flow coming out from the air diffusion grille.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There already exist air diffusers in the market which are provided with means to control the air outlet, said means comprising two articulated doors on a common, parallel axis, diametrically placed in relation to the exit grille, being these air diffusers manually operated to regulate the position of the doors and therefore, the air outlet.

The air outlet can also be regulated by using automatic valves inserted in the installation ducts. However, placing these valves in existing installations causes a series of problems. On the one hand, the valve installation itself requires cutting the air supply duct, sealing it afterwards etc. On the other hand, it is required to install the valve control, wiring system, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a flow regulator for the aforementioned purpose, which includes devices designed to control the air flow coming out from the diffusion grille and which can be installed in both new and existing air conditioning installations.

The object of the present invention is to gain control over the air flow with almost no effort and absolute no modifications to the existing installations.

The regulator object of this invention can be especially used in already existing installations, since assembling it does not require any modifications to said installation.

Besides, control of the different zones is simple and effective as there is a regulator inside each air diffuser.

The regulator object of this invention is designed to be mounted on a traditional air diffuser comprising an expansion chamber, wherein, through one of the bases of said expansion chamber an air conditioning supply duct flows into, while the opposite base is open and has a diffusion grille mounted on it.

According to this invention, the air flow regulator consists of an air flow control element mounted on the air supply duct, an activation engine mounted inside the expansion chamber, and a transmission mechanism connecting the activation engine to the air flow control element.

The air flow control element consists of a butterfly valve mounted inside the air supply duct through the corresponding oscillation diametrical axis.

The transmission mechanism is located below the butterfly valve and produces the oscillation of said valve towards one direction or the other, from the turning axis of the activation engine, from a closing position which prevents the air from going to the expansion chamber of the air diffuser, and a diametrical position of maximum opening towards said chamber.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the equipment in existing air conditioning installations, the butterfly valve is mounted onto a tubular carcass through the oscillation diametrical axis, this tubular carcass is coaxially placed inside the air supply duct, outwardly sealing the annular space which may exist between said carcass and duct, said sealing which can be achieved through a coupling between these two elements.

According to an embodiment, the transmission mechanism consists of a crank fixed to the axis engine on one end, a sliding guide on a bar diametrically fixed inside the tubular carcass downstream the butterfly valve and perpendicularly facing the oscillation axis of said valve, a first connecting rod articulated to the crank on one end and to the sliding guide on the other end, and a second connecting rod articulated to the sliding guide on one end and to the butterfly valve on the other end. Within this transmission mechanism, the articulation axes of the second connecting rod shall extend parallel to the oscillation axis of the butterfly valve and perpendicular to the articulation axes of the first connecting rod.

Clearly, space limitations regarding the mounting of the different parts of the air flow regulator are important, therefore, this solution aims at occupying the minimum space possible for air flow. In order to achieve this end, the transmission mechanism connecting the activation engine is inserted between the air flow control element inside the tubular carcass, downstream the butterfly valve, while the engine is located in the dead area of the expansion chamber.

Thus, the tubular carcass fulfills a two-fold purpose: It guarantees airtightness when there is no flow, and it also works as an anchor to both the butterfly valve and the transmission mechanism connecting the activation engine to the air flow control element. In order to achieve the described airtightness, an elastic joint is placed between the tubular carcass and the air supply duct, being even possible to use this elastic joint to hold the tubular carcass inside said duct due to the low static pressure the air exerts on this kind of air conditioning installations. However, if due to the combination of static pressure plus the diameter of the duct, the force exerted were above the holding effect exerted by the air-tight joint, a mechanic fastening system including for example screws, riveting or welding would then become necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings show a non-limiting example of an embodiment of an air diffuser for air conditioning installations, which is constituted according to the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, sectioned at 90°, of a diffuser for air conditioning installations including the regulator object of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the regulator in the diffuser in FIG. 1, with the butterfly valve in closing position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the regulator in FIG. 2, showing a partially sectioned tubular carcass.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, with the butterfly valve in a completely opening position.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3, with the butterfly valve in a completely opening position.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 4, with the butterfly valve in an opening intermediate position.

FIG. 7 is a lateral plan view of the flow regulator, with the butterfly valve in the positioned shown in FIG. 6 and the tubular carcass is sectioned according to the A-A cutting line from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a traditional air diffuser for air conditioning installations comprising an expansion chamber 1, wherein through one of its bases an air supply duct 2 flows into, being the opposite base open, where a diffusion grille, not shown, will be mounted.

The flow regulator object of this invention, and described in general as reference 3, is mounted inside said diffuser, which, in the example described in the drawings and, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, consists of an air flow control element comprising a butterfly valve 5 mounted on a carcass 4 through an oscillation diametrical axis 6, around which the valve 5 may oscillate from a closing position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an opening position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, including intermediate closing positions between them, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The flow regulator also comprises an activation engine 7 which, by means of a support plate 8, is mounted within expansion chamber 1, FIG. 1, in a dead area so as to let the air from duct 2 flow.

The flow regulator also comprises a transmission mechanism connecting the activation engine 7 to the butterfly valve 5, constituting the air flow control element, comprising said transmission mechanism a crank 9 fixed on one end to the axis 10 of engine 7, along a sliding guide 11 which can move along bar 12 diametrically mounted inside the tubular carcass 4, downstream the butterfly valve 5, a first connecting rod 13 a connecting the crank 9 to the sliding guide 11, and a second connecting rod 13 b connecting the sliding guide 11 to the butterfly valve 5.

The first connecting rod 13 a is articulated on one end to the crank 9 through axis 14, while on the opposite end the connecting rod 13 a is articulated to the sliding bar 11 through the axis 15. The second connecting rod 13 b is articulated on one end to the sliding guide 11 through the axis 16, while on the opposite end the connecting rod 13 b is articulated to the butterfly valve 5 through the axis 17 parallel to the oscillation axis 6 of the valve 5, being the axis 6 located approximately in the same area and slightly separated from it.

Articulation axes 16 and 17 of the second connecting rod 13 b are parallel to the oscillation axis 6 of the butterfly valve 5, and perpendicular to articulation axes 14 and 15 of the first connecting rod 13 a.

According to the arrangement described above, and considering the complete closing position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as a starting point, angular movement of the crank 9 is generated by activating the engine 7, and this causes the movement of the first connecting rod 13 a which pushes the sliding guide 11 towards the direction shown by arrow F of FIG. 2, said sliding guide which drags the second connecting rod 13 b producing the oscillation of the butterfly valve 5 until the limit position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is reached, in which the valve 5 has a diametrical position of maximum opening, adopting first intermediate closing positions, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In order to guarantee the movement of the crank 9, there may be included a guide consisting of a window 20 in the crank 9, going a fixed pivot 21 through said rod, which may for example be integral to the carcass of the engine 7.

The transmission mechanism, connecting the activation engine 7 to the butterfly valve 5, can be sub-divided into two simple mechanisms involving connecting rods and cranks located in perpendicular planes. The first of these simple mechanisms may consist of the crank 9, the first connecting rod 13 a and the sliding guide 11. The crank 9 anchoring point 10 to the engine axis 7, along with articulation axes 14 and 15, shall provide the space necessary for the movement of the aforementioned components. The second mechanism involving connecting rods and cranks may consist of a sliding guide 11, a second connecting rod 13 b and a butterfly valve 5. Articulation axes 16, 17, and oscillation axis 6 of the butterfly valve 5 shall provide the space necessary to achieve the necessary freedom for the movement of the components.

The sliding guide 11 shall be the link between the two aforementioned simple mechanisms involving the connecting rods and cranks, being axes 15 and 16 perpendicularly located in said sliding guide.

The length of the crank 9, first connecting rod 13 a, second connecting rod 13 b and distance D, FIG. 7, between the articulation axis 17 and the oscillation axis 6, shall be appropriate for the mechanism to fulfill its purpose by producing the oscillation of the butterfly valve 5 from a complete closing position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to a complete opening position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, as it has been described.

The diameter of tubular carcass 4 shall be slightly smaller than air supply duct 2, an air-tight joint, not included in the drawing, may be placed between them as a fastening means for said carcass 4 in the duct 2.

In case the installations belong to new constructions, the butterfly valve 5 may be mounted directly onto the duct 2 of the diffuser, through the oscillation axis 6. The assembly shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 is especially designed for assembling the air flow regulator in diffusers of existing air conditioning installations.

The assembly of the oscillation axis 6 can be carried out by means of bearings 23 mounted on holes drilled in the carcass 4 wall or in the air supply duct 2. 

1. Flow regulator for air conditioning installations, especially designed to be mounted inside an air diffuser comprising an expansion chamber, being inserted through one of its bases an air supply duct, while the opposite base is open and a diffusion grille is mounted thereon, wherein it comprises an air flow control element mounted on the air supply duct, an activation engine mounted inside the expansion chamber, and a transmission mechanism connecting the activation engine to the air flow control element; wherein said air flow control element consists of a butterfly valve and said transmission mechanism produces the oscillation of the butterfly valve towards one direction or the other from the turning of the activation engine, between a closing position which prevents the air flow from going into the expansion chamber, and a diametrical position of maximum opening towards said chamber.
 2. Diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the butterfly valve is mounted on a tubular carcass coaxially placed inside the air supply duct and outwardly sealed by said duct.
 3. Diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism consists of a crank fixed to the engine axis on one end; a sliding guide diametrically fixed inside the tubular carcass below the butterfly valve and in perpendicular direction to the oscillation axis of said valve; a first connecting rod articulated to a crank on one end, and to the sliding guide on the other end; and a second connecting rod articulated to the sliding guide on one end, and to the butterfly valve on the other end; being the articulation axes of the second connecting rod parallel to the oscillation axis from the butterfly valve and perpendicular to the articulation axes from the first connecting rod. 